On October 14, 1912, Theodore Roosevelt got shot in the chest. Then he gave a 90-minute speech.

He opened with: “I don’t know whether you fully understand that I have just been shot; but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose.”
The bullet had been slowed by a steel eyeglass case and the thick manuscript of the speech in his coat pocket. Still, it tore into his chest. He gave the speech anyway.

This moment wasn’t about just about politics. It was about principle. That night, he didn’t just push for votes—he called on Americans to reject division and stand up for dignity, no matter their background or beliefs. And he warned against the rise of a system that would pit the “Have-nots” against the “Haves.”

Roosevelt had already served as Governor of New York, Vice President, and President. He built his career during a time of deep political corruption, economic monopolies, and social unrest. His response? Reform. He championed a “Square Deal” that prioritized the rights of workers, the environment, and the average American. He signed landmark legislation to rein in corporate abuse, improve public health, and expand protections for consumers. And he fought to preserve public lands for the public good, laying the groundwork for America’s national parks and conservation movement.

He was flawed, like any leader, but he believed public service was just that—service, not self-interest.

At Central, we carry that energy forward. We don’t do political theater. We build things—community systems, civic coalitions, and public service efforts that meet the moment. Like Roosevelt, we believe democracy only works if we’re willing to step up and fight for it. Not later. Not someday. Now.